Antonio Testolin
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The creative process, for me, is a balance of inspiration, intuition, and planning. Inspiration—the most critical element—stems from the need to express indignation with the negative influences that society imposes on the human experience. Social conditions such as racism, homophobia, pandemic isolation, cultural gentrification, addiction, and trauma have been the inspiration for my work. From there, I begin the work, allowing intuition and spontaneity to create direction and emotion. Hopefully, when finished, it embraces the expression of the original intention.
I hope viewers can be inspired to reflect on their own connection to humanity and the world around them. Perhaps the work may serve, even in the most minute way, as a catalyst for empathy, understanding, and positive change. I believe that art has the power to transcend borders, cultures, and ideologies and ultimately, in some small way, contribute to a more compassionate, inclusive, and just world.
My parents were Italian, and I was raised in Italy until I was seven. I have wonderful memories of peering over fountains, touching marble sculptures, and experiencing carved figures and drapery—surprised by how hard and smooth the stone felt. To this day, those experiences continue to emerge in my work, often unconsciously.
My interest in sculpture started at an early age, developed during adolescence, and continued through university and graduate studies. I have worked in the following mediums: clay, wax, wood, cast resin, plastics, steel, marble, and bronze. It is marble (having studied marble carving in Italy) and bronze that speak to me most often. I enjoy the feel of marble, and its essence of permanence is enlivening. When carving, I am intrigued by how the stone transforms from rough, jagged surfaces into smooth, polished forms. This aspect of working with marble also connects me to my cultural roots.
I love how bronze is multifaceted—how it defies the illusion of gravity and offers a wide range of textures and color patinas. The scale I work in ranges from small pieces, one to two feet tall, to monumental public and private commissions over fifteen feet in height.
Currently, I am exploring sculpting in bronze and incorporating other materials such as wood, marble, and stainless steel. I find the contrast of these elements fascinating and enjoy probing the connections between them. I value the permanence of traditional materials like marble and bronze. In a world that is becoming increasingly ethereal, experiencing these enduring materials can resonate more deeply within our human conscience.
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Artist Resume with Exhibition Record
Aqua Nguvu Gallery and Studio, Milwaukee WI. (work on permeant display) 2022-present.
Milwaukee Gallery night (juried) 2023, 2024, and 2025
American Feral Madison (juried show) 2021-24
200 State Madison (juried show) 2021-23
Milwaukee Italian Community Center (3 person show) 2021
Art Fair on the square Madison (juried) circa 1998
Lazzaro Signature Gallery of Fine Art. Stoughton WI. 1992-1998
Large Scale Commission and public art:
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Fissure Project (Junction Road).
Large Scale Public Art Commissions:
“Spirit of Greenbush” City of Madison 2000
“Overcoming Bias”. City of Madison 1998 Madison Public
Awards:
Induction into British Royal Society of Sculptors 1997.
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Education:
UW Madison Masters 1982
UW Whitewater. Undergrad 1978
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